Don’t buy the latest nonsense about statin drugs extending lifespan and reducing dementia — it’s pure hogwash

Tall tales twice-told

If you ever wanted a Wonder Drug, here it is. It extends lifespan! Reduces dementia risk! Prevents heart disease!

Hey…where do I get in line for that, right?

Now here’s the bad news: We’re talking about statins. And if you’re confused about the benefits vs. the dangers of statins, believe me, you’re not alone.

The wonder drug’s last gasp

For years, statins took the stage with “wonder drug” status. They were hyped as a game-changing drug to protect your heart. And the hype worked wonders alright. They turned into the best selling class of drugs…ever.

But little by little, research uncovered serious problems. Statins have been found to increase the risk of…

* high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes

* muscle pain and damage

* kidney and liver damage

* memory loss

* age-related macular degeneration

* cataracts

What’s worse, the older you are, the greater the risks.

Meanwhile, promises about heart disease prevention have been HUGELY exaggerated. In fact, high cholesterol has been reduced to a minor heart risk.

But all that doesn’t stop medical mainstreamers. They’re sticking to the original script like parrots. They never get tired of squawking, “Benefits far outweigh the risks! Awk!”

Two new studies will help them cling to that delusion. But not if they actually READ the studies. Because they’re both laughable.

In the first, we’re told that statins might slow down the shrinkage of DNA bits. These “bits” — called telomeres — play a role in aging. A single blood test of each subject showed more telomere activity in statin users compared to subjects who, wisely, had said, “No,” to statins.

There are a lot of ifs, mights, and maybes in this small study. That’s because researchers didn’t even track the subjects over time, which is kind of the whole point when you’re talking about longevity.

In the second study, you only need to know two things… 1) Data was collected from research that wasn’t specifically looking for a dementia link to statins. And 2) Only high doses of statins were linked to possible dementia risk reduction.

Taking a high dose statin to prevent dementia is like flooding your house to keep fire risk low. Sure — no fire, but lots of damage. All the major problems linked to statins –including memory loss — are worse with high doses.

These new studies are strictly for statins’ die hard cheerleaders who are grasping at straws — and trying to match the negative headlines with something that will keep their sales up. But the research keeps pointing to the same conclusion: Statins really are the most overrated dangerous drug in history.

Sources:
“Can Statins Increase Your Lifespan?” Nick Tate, Newsmax Health, 8/30/13, newsmaxhealth.com

“Statins Linked to Reduced Dementia” Sue Hughes, Medscape, 9/5/13, medscape.com